The southern magnolias are blooming now. Have you ever taken a careful look at the center of this flower? The stamens are the flat white sticks at the bottom. The curly pieces are the stigmas. This flower is older. The petals are turning brown. The stamens have mostly fallen off, and the red piece remaining… Continue reading A Closer Look at Southern Magnolia
Blogs
A Little Humor on a Rainy Day
I came across this scene at Church Street Park this morning. A mallard duck was voicing his opinion about something to the rabbit nearby. The rabbit was just casually eating some grass. I laughed as I recalled the Saturday morning cartoons from my childhood: Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck were always arguing about something, and… Continue reading A Little Humor on a Rainy Day
Field Report- May 11, 2025
What’s blooming on the trails in early May? The fruit on the dewberries and mulberries are beginning to ripen.
Buttercups with White Petals
I came across this patch of buttercups at the North Carolina Museum of Art today. Some of the flowers have white petals, or white patches on the petals. I’m not sure what caused this. It could be age, disease, or just the environment. Have you ever seen a buttercup like this? Here’s a closer look:
Identifying Fleabanes
Fleabanes are the small, white daisies that seem to be blooming everywhere right now. The plants are 1-4 feet tall, and the flowers are less than one inch wide. Take a closer look, and you’ll realize that there are several different kinds of fleabanes. I’ve found four types so far. The trick is to look… Continue reading Identifying Fleabanes
Sometimes Nature Comes to You
Sometimes nature comes to you! We sat down to eat lunch yesterday and heard a tap on the window. The bugs bump the window all the time, it was nothing unusual. As I passed by the window though, something caught my attention. Look at this bug! Have you ever seen anything like it? It’s an… Continue reading Sometimes Nature Comes to You
Adorable Ducklings
I love watching the babies this time of year! There is a mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos) family with 10 ducklings at Morrisville Community Park this spring.
What Flowers Will Bloom Next Month? May 2025
Here are some of the highlights of the flowers that will bloom in May: There are so many flowers that start to bloom in May, so be sure to check the May flower page for a more complete list.
Field Report- April 23, 2025
Are you keeping up with all of the changes outside? Here’s a list of new plants blooming in the last two weeks:
Migration of the Monarch Butterfly
Every fall, monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) fly all the way to Mexico to spend the winter. As the temperatures warm in the spring, the monarchs travel north again. I had heard this story many times, but I never really looked into the details. Monarch butterflies typically only live for a month. They eat, they mate,… Continue reading Migration of the Monarch Butterfly